Delete: In Catalog 2000-2001, on pages 96-97, the entry for Concentration in Political Economy.

Impact: Virtually none. The deletion of the Concentration will have no impact on the course offering pattern of
economics. There are no students in it at the present time.

Rationale: This Concentration has always had little student interest. In the short run students could continue to follow the Concentration in Political Economy in Political
Science, but in the long run students might be better served by the IST concentration in Ethics and Social
Institutions or by a newly devised IST concentration in Political Economy.

b. Add Concentration in Environmental Economics

Add: In Catalog 2000-2001, on page 96, the following:

Concentration in Environmental Economics An examination of issues and policies relating to theenvironment and natural resources from the perspective of economics.

III. Other departmental requirements--Senior demonstration of competency and oral
competency are met by completion of ECON 480 with a grade of C or higher.

IV. Suggested courses outside the major--Courses that complement the concentration include:
ENVR 241, 332, 383, 384. Students with limited computer experience should take CSCI 107.
Students interested in graduate school in economics should take MATH 191 and 192.

Impact:There will be no resource impact on economics as all courses are now offered regularly and have room for
additional students. Some economics majors in the "general" concentration will move to the Concentration in
Environmental Economics (CEE).

The only department other than economics that might be affected is Environmental Studies. ENVR 130 and
334 are required by the concentration, but enrollment in ENVR 130 will almost certainly not change because
students will have taken this General Education course before identifying their interest in economics--almost
no students come to UNCA to major in economics. There might be a modest student increase in ENVR 334.

More difficult to say is the impact of the concentration on the number of majors in Environmental Studies.
There is only one concentration where an effect is plausible--the Concentration in Natural Resource
Management (CNRM). It should be noted that there will be very substantial differences between the curricula
for the CNRM and the CEE, the most significant being that the former will continue to have its strong natural
science orientation whereas the latter will have a strong social science orientation.

It is unlikely that any present CNRM major will move to economics. In the future, however, some students
who might otherwise have chosen to be a CNRM major may choose to be a CEE major instead, based upon
criteria relevant to him or her. The different disciplinary orientations will surely play an important role in that
decision. What seems unproblematical is that more majors in Environmental Studies will choose economics
as a second major.

Rationale:Environmental Economics is a recognized and growing subdiscipline of economics. The Concentration in
Environmental Economics will provide an opportunity for economics majors to focus their studies on issues
and policies relating to the environment and natural resources. In addition it will enable them to make
intellectual connections that are both interdisciplinary and interdivisional. Knowledge of these connections is
inherently valuable and will help provide economics students with access to a growing array of graduate fields
and careers. This opportunity can be provided at no additional resource cost as all of the necessary courses
are being taught regularly and have available space. The concentration is also expected to solidify the
collegial relationships that already exist between Environmental Studies and Economics.